Ahead of today's qualifying session it's hard to see anyone other than a Renault driver on pole for tomorrow's race, though McLaren and Ferrari are in with a shout. Then again, it's not impossible that BMW will pull out all the stops and put Jacques Villeneuve on the front row, it would be a massive PR coup and the German cars certainly have the pace.

Barring a major turnaround in fortunes however, it's unlikely we'll see a Honda on the front row, far less a Toyota, as the Japanese team is clearly struggling here.

During the break between practice and qualifying many of the drivers, especially the German ones, have been watching the football, and Michael, Nick, Nico and Ralf are sure to have been motivated by their team's performance.

With a couple of minutes before the session gets underway, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 48 degrees.

First out is Ralf Schumacher, followed by Trulli, Webber, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Monteiro and Albers.

Ralf sets the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:22.019, which is probably around six or seven seconds off the pole winning time this afternoon.

As if to prove the point, Rosberg takes the top spot with a 1:17.817, ahead of Albers, Trulli and Webber.

Next time around Albers goes quickest in the first sector, while Liuzzi goes quickest in the second. Meanwhile, Speed goes quickest with a 1:17.769.

Both Red Bull drivers are on track and posting ultra-quick sector times. However, it's Kimi Raikkonen that goes quickest, the McLaren driver posting 1:17.574.

Speed re-takes the top-spot (17.164) ahead of Klien and Raikkonen, while Montoya goes quickest in the first sector. As Raikkonen re-takes the top-spot with a 1:16.778, his teammate posts a 1:16.509.

With just under seven minutes remaining, seven drivers have yet to post a time.

Fernando Alonso posts 1:16.247 to go quickest, as Michael Schumacher goes fifteenth with a 20.372.

In the Red Bull garage the mechanics are working on Coulthard's car. The Scot has been out but hasn't posted a time, having gone off on his flying lap.

Alonso improves with a 1:15.350, as Michael goes second, ahead of Heidfeld, Fisichella and Montoya.

With just over three minutes remaining, Coulthard leaves the pits, he is still in the 'danger zone' as are Sato, Montagny, Webber, Albers and Monteiro.

Webber posts 1:16.985 to ease the pressure, but this drops teammate Rosberg into the 'danger zone'. The German goes eighth with a 1:16.404, but this means the end of the day's work for his teammate Webber, who drops back into the danger zone, with no time remaining.